Knowledge Organiser - Topic One: Medieval Medicine 1250-1500 Medieval Britain Key Words 9. Superstition A belief, not based on knowledge, but in the supernatural like God, witchcraft or astrology. 10. Monastery A building where monks live, eat and pray 11. Miasma ‘Bad air’ which was blamed for spreading disease 12. Astrology Study of the planets and its affect on humans 13. Urine Chart Used human urine to help diagnose an illness 14. Amulet A charm that brought ‘protection’ from disease 15. Purging To rid the body of a ‘excess’ like blood or vomit 16. Leeching The use of leeches for drawing blood from patients 17. Cupping Using glass cups to draw blood to the surface 18. Pilgrimage A journey to a religious shrine and relics to show your love of God and to cure an illness 19 Apothecary A medieval pharmacists or chemist 20. Physician A male medically trained doctor 21. Barber Surgeon Untrained surgeon, who practiced basic surgery 22. Wisewoman A female healer, who used magic or herbal remedies to cure illnesses. 23. Vademecum A medieval ’medical’ book carried by doctors 24. Herbal Remedy Medicine made from plants with natural cures 25. Trepanning Cutting hole in the skull 26. Rakers Men hired to clean the streets of muck 27. Epidemic A widespread outbreak of a disease 28. Black Death A term to describe the bubonic plague 29. Flagellant People who whipped themselves to show god they repented their sins and wanted mercy. 30. Pestilence A fatal epidemic disease, e.g. the Black Death 1 Medieval Britain is the period between 1250-1500 also known as the 13th-16th century. It is also known as the Middle Ages. Key Events 2 1123 – Britain's first hospital, St. Bartholomews was set up in London 3 1348-49 – The Black Death affects England, kills 40% of population. 4 1350 – Average life expectancy is 35 years of age 5 1388 – Parliament passes the first law requiring streets and rivers to be kept clean by the people. 6 1400 – There were 500 hospitals in Britain Key Concepts 6. The Medieval Church The official religion of Britain was Roman Catholic and the church was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was answerable to the Pope in Rome. Ideas and power was dominated by the Church, they controlled education and the church played a central part in daily life. 7. The Four Humours First suggested by Greek doctor Hippocrates. He believed the body was made up of Four Humours, Black Bile, Yellow Bile, Blood and Phlegm. These humours linked to the four elements and seasons. Hippocrates believed if these humours became unbalanced you would get ill, so you would need to rebalance the four. Galen, a Greek doctor working in Rome, continued the Four Humours Theory and added his own ideas. His ‘Theory of Opposites’ to heal illness suggested using opposites to cure the humours, e.g. using hot to cure cold. 8. Medieval Power The emphasis in Medieval Britain was on authority, the King had absolute power but the Church has considerable control. People followed authority and would not question the views of King/Church at risk to their own lives.